9 



uneasy action from its want of elasticity. The hips should be 

 broad. 



The quarters and gaskins should be broad. The muscles of the 

 two quarters should come close together and leave no hollow 

 below the anus, as that conformation would be an indication of 

 a want of constitution. 



The hock should be of good size, but clean and flat, and with 

 a good clean point standing clear of the joint. The cannon bone 

 should be short, not tied in below the hook, and the line from 

 the point of the hock to the back part of the fetlock should be 

 vertical. 



The hocks should stand well apart, but not enough to give the 

 horse the appearance of being " bow-legged." 



" Cow-hocked," so called, is when the hocks are placed together 

 and the hind feet vnde apart, with the toes turned out. The fet- 

 lock should not bend forward, as it is an indication of weakness, 

 and is known as " cocked ankle." 



The pastern and feet should be formed to correspond with those 

 of the fore extremity. 



The croup should not have much slope; the dock should be 

 large and muscular; the tail should be carried firmly and well 

 away from the quarters. 



EXTERNAL DISEASES. 



Under this heading the diseases appearing upon the outside of 

 the body are considered; they are commonly regarded as blemishes 

 or defects and are the results of injuries more or less severe. 



They may be enumerated as follows: 



1. Diseases of bones. 



2. Diseases of synovial membranes. 



3. Diseases of muscles, tendons, ligaments, and skin. 



4. Diseases of the foot. 



' 1. Diseases of bones. 



Bone sjjavin. — Location: Lower and inner part of the hock 

 joint. 



Splints. — Location: Usually appearing on the inner side be- 

 tween the large and small metacarpal bones. 



Sidebones (ossification of lateral cartilages). — Location: Sides 

 of the foot just above the coronet. 



Ringbone. — Location: Between coronet and fetlock joint. 



